Unofficial news and tips about Google

October 20, 2011

A New Look for Gmail

A video from Google's YouTube channel (update: the video is now private, but there's a mirror here) introduces a new Gmail interface. It's based on the Preview theme that's already available in Gmail, but there are many other changes: an action bar that uses icons instead of text labels, a completely new interface for conversations, profile pictures next to contacts, a flexible layout that adapts to any window size, display density options like in Google Docs, resizable chat/labels sections, new high-definition themes and an updated search box that includes advanced options.

I don't see the new interface yet, but it will probably be available soon. It's interesting that there's an arrow next to "Mail" and the links to Google Contacts and Google Tasks are missing. Maybe you'll be able to use the arrow to switch to other Google services.

58 comments:

I don't know about you but the video I watched said "Internal only and confidential, do not share this video externally" So maybe these are future changes and not rolling out now. Although I hope they are.

The down arrow next to "Mail" is probably a drop down menu for Contacts and Tasks. This is already in place in the current version, you just have to hoover over the "Mail" link and click on the "-" sign that appears on right.

I've already mentioned about the Preview theme, but this is a new interface, not just a theme. All the changes I've mentioned are nowhere to be found if you switch to the Preview theme. Right now, the new interface is not available.

search looks nice and useful. The rest seems like a step backwards IMO. It looks like it just takes up more space with unused blank grey space. It looks like in the old view you could get more of a conversation on one page without the face icons, and unused space.

I certainly hope, after years of myself and others BEGGING them, they will FINALLY implement order by column so I can FINALLY ditch my 3rd party email program that has been - up to now - necessary to sort by subject, sender, etc. I would really love to finally clean up my inbox, since it's now holding over 27,000 emails because I HATE having to boot up Thunderbird or OE to properly sort/delete.

This is not really true as far as I can see. I applied back in April 2010 and have never heard anything back from Youtube. The signup link above takes me to a page informing me that I already contacted them in April 2010.

I'm I the only person who thinks this new interface is complete crap? Can I please at least have a revert to 'classic' interface button? I've already made a crappy as hotmail account, I hate this gmail... I'm done.